Scientists Cure Pulmonary Fibrosis in Mice

A group of scientists from the National Center for Oncological Research (CNIO) in Spain has managed to cure idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in mice through a therapy that rejuvenates damaged tissue.

Telomerase Gene Therapy is a gene therapy based on adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors that reconstruct telomeres. According to Dr. Fernando Guillén, Pulmonologist from ISSSTE Chiapas, this disease is not common in Mexico, but 50 percent affected people die two or three years after diagnosis. Pulmonary fibrosis consists of a progressive healing of the lung tissue that causes the shortening of the protective structure at the end of the chromosomes. It is a fatal condition that causes breathing difficulties, persistent coughing, chest pain and weight loss, among other symptoms and that mainly affect men over 50.

Pulmonary fibrosis is an age-related disease. In the study published in eLife, the group of scientists confirms that age-related diseases can be treated by attacking cellular processes related to aging.

Pulmonary fibrosis is one of the 7,000 rare diseases that together affect almost 10 million Mexicans, according to WHO.